Daijiworld Media Network- Tunis

Tunis, Sep 8: Massive crowds thronged the Sidi Bou said port in Tunisia on Sunday to welcome Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg as her flotilla of aid boats, bound for Gaza, docked after sailing from Barcelona.

Thunberg, 22, was joined by 350 pro-Palestinian activists aboard nearly 20 vessels carrying humanitarian aid. Addressing supporters at the port, she said: “We all know why we are here. Just across the water there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine.”

Israel has denied allegations of starvation in Gaza, instead blaming Hamas and aid agencies. However, a UN-backed body last month confirmed famine in the territory, with the UN humanitarian chief attributing it to Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of aid.

French-Palestinian member of the European parliament Rima Hassan was also present at the port. “The Palestinian cause is not in the hands of governments today. It is in the hearts of peoples everywhere,” she said, praising those standing in solidarity with Palestinians.

Flotilla organisers under the banner Global Sumud Flotilla said their mission aims to “break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.” The convoy will remain in Tunisia for a few days to expand, load additional aid, and be joined by Tunisian activists before resuming the journey to Gaza.

This is not the first such attempt. A similar flotilla effort in June was intercepted by Israeli forces. Israeli authorities have dismissed Thunberg’s participation in previous attempts as a “publicity stunt” with no real humanitarian impact.

Israel imposed a near-total blockade on Gaza in March, halting supplies for nearly three months before partially easing restrictions under international pressure.